An axial flow compressor

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to axial flow compressors.

[0002] In axial flow compressors it is common practice to provide bleed offtakes in order to bleed working fluid from the compressor for various purposes. In axial flow compressors of gas turbine engines, working fluid is commonly bled from the axial flow compressor for cooling turbines, gearboxes, bearings or for supplying to an associated aircraft cabin air supply.

[0003] In axial flow compressors it is desirable to maintain a uniform small clearance between the rotor blade tips and the encircling static shroud, and to minimise the variations in the clearance between the rotor blade tips and the static shroud.

[0004] The use of bleed offtakes has resulted in a problem affecting the small clearance between the rotor blade tips and the static shroud. The bleeding of working fluid from the compressor has resulted in a local reduction of the clearance between the static shroud and the rotor blade tips in a circumferential half of the compressor in which the bleed offtake is positioned.

[0005] Accordingly the present invention seeks to provide an axial flow compressor with a bleed offtake in which the local reduction of clearance between the static shrouds and rotor blade tips is reduced.

[0006] Accordingly the present invention provides an axial flow compressor comprising a rotor having at least one stage of circumferentially spaced radially outwardly extending rotor blades, an inner casing having a shroud structure, the shroud structure extending circumferentially and being spaced radially from the rotor blades by a clearance, an outer casing being positioned coaxially with and spaced radially outwardly from the inner casing, an annular chamber being formed between the inner casing and the outer casing, the annular chamber being supplied with working fluid at a first predetermined pressure, a bleed offtake being arranged to bleed working fluid at a second predetermined pressure from within the inner casing, the inner casing having a first bleed aperture, the outer casing having a second bleed aperture, a bleed duct being arranged to extend radially between and to seal with the first bleed aperture in the inner casing and the second bleed aperture in the outer casing, the first predetermined pressure being greater or less than the second predetermined pressure, loading means arranged to apply a load on the inner casing such that any load acting on the inner casing due to the provision of the bleed duct is at least reduced by the load acting on the inner casing due to the loading means to oppose local reductions of the clearance between the shroud structure and the rotor blades.

[0007] The loading means may comprise a first loading means positioned circumferentially on a first side of the bleed duct, a second loading means positioned circumferentially on a second side of the bleed duct, the first and second loading means being arranged to apply loads on the inner casing at predetermined angles circumferentially from the bleed duct such that any load acting on the inner casing due to the provision of the bleed duct is at least reduced by components of the loads acting on the inner casing due to the first and second loading means to oppose local reductions of the clearance between the shroud structure and the rotor blades.

[0008] The first loading means may comprise a first cylinder and a first piston, the first piston being arranged coaxially within the first cylinder to define a first chamber, the first chamber being supplied with working fluid at a third predetermined pressure, the second loading means comprises a second cylinder and a second piston, the second piston being arranged coaxially within the second cylinder to define a second chamber, the second chamber being supplied with working fluid at a fourth predetermined pressure, both the third predetermined pressure and the fourth predetermined pressure being greater or less than the first predetermined pressure, the first piston being secured to one of the inner casing or outer casing, the first cylinder being secured to the other of the inner casing or outer casing, the second piston being secured to one of the inner casing or outer casing, the second cylinder being secured to the other of the inner casing or outer casing, the axes of the first cylinder and the second cylinder being arranged at a predetermined angle circumferentially from the bleed duct such that any load acting on the inner casing due to the provision of the bleed duct is at least reduced by loads acting on the inner casing due to the pressure difference between the working fluid in the first and second chambers and the working fluid within the inner casing.

[0009] The first cylinder may be secured to the inner casing and the first piston is secured to the outer casing.

[0010] The second cylinder may be secured to the inner casing and the second piston is secured to the outer casing.

[0011] The axes of the first cylinder, the second cylinder, the first bleed aperture, and the second bleed aperture may be arranged to lie in a plane.

[0012] The first and second cylinders may be arranged at equal angles circumferentially from the bleed duct.

[0013] The third and fourth pressures may be equal.

[0014] The axes of the first and second cylinders may be arranged at an angle of 21° from the axis of the bleed duct or at an angle of 18.5° from the axis of the bleed duct.

[0015] The present invention will be more fully described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a partially cut away view of a turbofan gas turbine engine having a compressor according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the compressor in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view in the direction of arrows A-A in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an inner compressor casing in Figures 2 and 3.

Figures 5 and 6 are diagrammatic cross-sectional views of the inner compressor casing in Figure 4.

[0016] A turbofan gas turbine engine 10 is shown in Figure 1, and comprises in axial flow series an inlet 12, a fan section 14, a compressor section 16, a combustor section 18, a turbine section 20 and an exhaust nozzle 22. The fan section 14 comprises a fan assembly 24 positioned coaxially in a fan casing 30. The fan assembly 24 comprises a fan rotor 26 which has a plurality of circumferentially arranged radially outwardly extending fan blades 28. A fan duct 32 is defined between the fan casing 30 and the core engine casing. The fan duct 30 has an outlet 36 at its downstream end. The fan casing 30 is secured to the core engine casing by a plurality of circumferentially arranged outlet guide vanes 34.

[0017] The turbofan gas turbine engine 10 operates quite conventionally in that air flows into the inlet 12, and is initially compressed by the fan section 14. The air flow is then divided and a first portion of the air flows through the compressor section 16 and is further compressed before being supplied to the combustor section 18. Fuel is injected into the combustor section 18 and is burnt in the air supplied from the compressor section 16 to produce hot gases. The hot gases flow through and drive the turbine section 20 before passing through the exhaust nozzle 22 to atmosphere. The second portion of air bypasses the core of the turbofan gas turbine engine 10 and flows through the bypass duct 32 to the bypass duct outlet 36. The turbine section 20 drives the fan section 14 and the compressor section 16 via shafts (not shown).

[0018] The compressor section 16 is shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3. The compressor section 16 comprises a rotor 38 which has a plurality of stages of rotor blades 40 secured thereto. The stages of rotor blades 40 are spaced apart axially on the rotor 38, and the rotor blades 40 in each stage are circumferentially spaced and extend radially outwardly from the rotor 38.

[0019] The compressor section 16 also has a static structure. The static structure comprises an inner casing 42 and an outer casing 70, the inner and outer casings 42 and 70 are arranged coaxially with the rotor 38. The inner casing 42 comprises a number of annular casing portions 44,46,48 and 50 which are secured together. The casing portions 44,46,48 and 50 carry a number of annular channel section members 51,52,54 and 56 which are secured together at bolted flange joints. The annular channel section members 51,52,54 and 56 have shroud structures 58,60,62 and 64 respectively, which are spaced radially from the outermost tips of the rotor blades 40 by a small clearance 66. The outer casing 70 is spaced radially outwardly from the inner casing 42 and the outer casing 70 comprises a number of annular casing portions 72 and 74 which are secured together.

[0020] A first annular chamber 80 is formed between the inner casing 42 and the outer casing 70, and a second annular chamber 82 is formed within the inner casing 42. The first annular chamber 80 is supplied with air compressed by the compressor, the air is at a first predetermined pressure, and in this example is bled from the third stage of the high pressure compressor. The second annular chamber 82 is supplied with air compressed by the compressor, the air is at a second predetermined pressure, and in this example is bled from the sixth or final stage of the high pressure compressor.

[0021] The inner casing portion 44 has a first bleed aperture 84 and the outer casing portion 74 has a second bleed aperture 86, which is coaxial with the first bleed aperture 84. A bleed duct 88 is arranged coaxially with the first and second bleed apertures 84,86 and extends radially between and seals with the first bleed aperture 84 in the inner casing 42, and seals with the second bleed aperture 86 in the outer casing 70. The bleed duct 88 is secured to the outer casing 70, but is not secured to the inner casing 42, the radially inner end of the bleed duct 88 seals with the first bleed aperture 84 in the inner casing 42 by means of a ring seal 90.

[0022] The bleed duct 88 is arranged to bleed compressed air at the second predetermined pressure from the second annular chamber 82 within the inner casing 42 and to supply the compressed air for various purposes, for example cooling of engine turbines, gearboxes, bearings or for supplying to an associated aircraft cabin air supply.

[0023] A bleed valve (not shown) is provided to control the flow of bleed air from the compressor.

[0024] However, as mentioned previously the bleeding of compressed air from the compressor has resulted in a local reduction of the clearance between the static shrouds and the tips of the rotor blades in the circumferential half of the compressor in which the bleed duct is positioned. The problem arises because of the provision of the bleed duct rather than actually taking a bleed flow of air from the compressor.

[0025] Referring to Figures 4 to 6 which shows the inner casing 42 and the first bleed aperture 84. The compressed air outside of the inner casing 42 in the first annular chamber 80 is at a first predetermined pressure P₁ and the compressed air inside the inner casing 42 in the second annular chamber 82 is at a second predetermined pressure P₂. The second predetermined pressure P₂ is greater than the first predetermined pressure P₁ by a differences ΔP.

[0026] If the loads on the two half casings are considered as in Figure 6, if the inner casing 42 has a diameter of D and a length of L then the load on the bottom half of the casing is ΔP x D x L. If the area of the first bleed aperture is A then the load on the top half of the casing is ΔP x D x L -ΔP x A. There is a load mismatch between the top half of the casing and the bottom half of the casing resulting in a downward load of ΔP x A on the casing. This load acting on the inner casing due to the difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the inner casing and the provision of a bleed aperture in the inner casing is the cause of the local reduction of the clearance between the shrouds and rotor blade tips in the half of the compressor in which the bleed duct is centrally positioned.

[0027] The pressures P₁ and P₂ in the annular chambers 80 and 82 respectively, and the load which causes the distortion of the inner casing 42 are present whenever the engine is running. The pressure P₂ in chamber 82 falls slightly when air is being bled from the compressor, usually during descent and hold of a gas turbine engine mounted to an associated aircraft. The greatest load acting on the inner casing 42 occurs during take-off when the bleed valve is closed preventing an air bleed flow from the compressor.

[0028] In order to reduce, or preferably minimise, the local reduction of the clearance between the shroud structure and the tips of the rotor blades due to this effect, first and second loading devices 92 are provided. The first loading device 92 is positioned on a first side of the bleed duct 88, and is spaced circumferentially from the bleed duct 88 by an angle ϑ₁, similarly the second loading device 92 is positioned on a second side of the bleed duct 88, and is spaced circumferentially from the bleed duct 88 by an angle ϑ₂. The first and second loading devices 92 are arranged to apply loads on the inner casing 42 at predetermined angles of ϑ₁ and ϑ₂ circumferentially from the bleed duct 88 such that the load acting on the inner casing 42 due to compressed air being bled from the second annular chamber 82 is reduced by components of the loads acting on the inner casing 42 due to the first and second loading devices 92 to oppose the local reductions of the clearance between the shroud structure and the rotor blades.

[0029] Each loading device 92 comprises a cylinder 94 which is secured to the inner casing portion 44 by nuts 106 and bolts 108 or other suitable fastening means, and a piston 96 which is secured to a boss 78 on the outer casing portion 74 by nuts 102 and bolts 104 or other suitable fastening means. Each piston 96 is arranged coaxially within the respective cylinder 94 to define a chamber 98. The axes of the cylinders 94 are arranged to extend radially. The pistons 96 are provided with one or more sealing rings 100 which form a seal between the pistons 96 and the cylinders 94. The bosses 78 are provided with apertures 110 which supply compressed air at a predetermined pressure from the compressor into the chambers 98. The predetermined pressure of the air supplied to the chambers 98 is less than the predetermined pressure of the air in the first annular chamber 80. A seal plate 112 is secured over each aperture 100 but a small vent 114 is allowed.

[0030] The air supplied to the chambers 98 is preferably supplied from the fan duct 32 downstream of the fan blades 28, however it may also be possible to use air supplied from the compressor at any suitable position upstream of the third stage of the high pressure compressor.

[0031] The angles ϑ₁ and ϑ₂, and the predetermined pressure of the air supplied to the chambers 98 are chosen so that the loads applied on the inner casing by the loading devices balances the loads on the inner casing due to the provision of a bleed duct for bleeding of air from the second annular chamber 82. The loading devices are arranged such that the angles ϑ₁ and ϑ₂ from the bleed duct 88 are equal and the pressure of the air supplied to the chambers 98 are arranged to be equal. However, balancing may be achieved using different angles and different pressures.

[0032] It may equally well be possible to secure the pistons to the inner casing and the cylinders to the outer casing.

[0033] The cylinders are arranged at angles of 21° or 18.5° from the bleed aperture 84, however other suitable angles may be used.

Claims

1. An axial flow compressor (16) comprising a rotor (38) having at least one stage of circumferentially spaced radially outwardly extending rotor blades (40), an inner casing (42) having a shroud structure (58,60,62,64), the shroud structure (58,60,62,64) extending circumferentially and being spaced radially from the rotor blades (38) by a clearance (66), an outer casing (70) being positioned coaxially with and spaced radially outwardly from the inner casing (42), an annular chamber (80) being formed between the inner casing (42) and the outer casing (70), the annular chamber (80) being supplied with working fluid at a first predetermined pressure, a bleed offtake being arranged to bleed working fluid at a second predetermined pressure from within the inner casing (42), the inner casing (42) having a first bleed aperture (84), the outer casing (70) having a second bleed aperture (86), a bleed duct (88) being arranged to extend between and to seal with the first bleed aperture (84) in the inner casing (42) and the second bleed aperture (86) in the outer casing (70), the first predetermined pressure being greater or less than the second predetermined pressure characterised in that loading means (92) are arranged to apply a load on the inner casing (42) such that any load acting on the inner casing (42) due to the provision of the bleed duct (88) is at least reduced by the load acting on the inner casing (42) due to the loading means (92) to oppose local reductions of the clearance (66) between the shroud structure (58,60,62,64) and the rotor blades (40).

2. A compressor as claimed in claim 1 in which the loading means (92) comprises a first loading means (92) positioned circumferentially on a first side of the bleed duct (88), a second loading means (92) positioned circumferentially on a second side of the bleed duct (88), the first and second loading means (92) being arranged to apply loads on the inner casing (42) at predetermined angles circumferentially from the bleed duct (88) such that any load acting on the inner casing (42) due to the provision of the bleed duct (88) is at least reduced by components of the loads acting on the inner casing (42) due to the first and second loading means (92) to oppose local reductions of the clearance (66) between the shroud structure (58,60,62,64) and the rotor blades (40).

3. A compressor as claimed in claim 2 in which the first loading means (92) comprises a first cylinder (94) and a first piston (96), the first piston (96) being arranged coaxially within the first cylinder (94) to define a first chamber (98), the first chamber (98) being supplied with working fluid at a third predetermined pressure, the second loading means (92) comprises a second cylinder (94) and a second piston (96), the second piston (96) being arranged coaxially within the second cylinder (94) to define a second chamber (98), the second chamber (98) being supplied with working fluid at a fourth predetermined pressure, both the third predetermined pressure and the fourth predetermined pressure being greater or less than the first predetermined pressure, the first piston (96) being secured to one of the inner casing (42) or outer casing (70), the first cylinder (94) being secured to the other of the inner casing (42) or outer casing (70), the second piston (96) being secured to one of the inner casing (42) or outer casing (70), the second cylinder (94) being secured to the other of the inner casing (42) or outer casing (70), the axes of the first cylinder (94) and the second cylinder (94) being arranged at a predetermined angle circumferentially from the bleed duct (88) such that any load acting on the inner casing (42) due to the provision of a bleed duct (88) is at least reduced by loads acting on the inner casing (42) due to the pressure difference between the working fluid in the first and second chambers (98) and the working fluid within the inner casing (42).

4. A compressor as claimed in claim 3 in which the axes of the first and second cylinders (94) are arranged to extend radially.

5. A compressor as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 in which the first cylinder (94) is secured to the inner casing (42) and the first piston (96) is secured to the outer casing (70).

6. A compressor as claimed in claim 3, claim 4 or claim 5 in which the second cylinder (94) is secured to the inner casing (42) and the second piston (96) is secured to the outer casing (70).

7. A compressor as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5 in which the axes of the first cylinder (94), the second cylinder (94), the first bleed aperture (84), and the second bleed aperture (86) are arranged to lie in a plane.

8. A compressor as claimed in any of claims 3 to 6 in which the first and second cylinders (94) are arranged at equal angles circumferentially from the bleed duct (88).

9. A compressor as claimed in any of claims 3 to 7 in which the third and fourth pressures are equal.

10. A compressor as claimed in claim 7 in which the axes of the first and second cylinders (94) are arranged at an angle of 21° from the axis of the bleed duct (88).

11. A compressor as claimed in claim 7 in which the axes of the first and second cylinders (94) are arranged at an angle of 18.5° from the axis of the bleed duct (88).

12. A gas turbine engine comprising a compressor as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11.

13. A gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 11 in which the gas turbine engine is a turbofan, the turbofan having a fan positioned coaxially in a fan casing, the working fluid at the third and fourth predetermined pressures being supplied from a position downstream of the fan.

Ansprüche

1. Axialkompressor (16) mit einem Rotor (38), der wenigstens eine Stufe, bestehend aus in Umfangsrichtung im Abstand zueinander angeordneten, radial nach außen verlaufenden Rotorschaufeln (40) besitzt, mit einem Innengehäuse (42), welches einen Schaufelringaufbau (58, 60, 62, 64) besitzt, der sich in Umfangsrichtung unter Belassung eines Zwischenraums (66) im radialen Abstand zu den Rotorschaufeln (38) erstreckt, mit einem Außengehäuse (70), das koaxial zu dem Innengehäuse (42) angeordnet ist und im radialen Abstand zu dem Innengehäuse liegt, mit einer Ringkammer (80), die zwischen dem Innengehäuse (42) und dem Außengehäuse (70) liegt und mit einem unter einem ersten vorbestimmten Druck stehenden Arbeitsmittel gespeist wird, wobei eine Abzapfstelle vorgesehen ist, um das Arbeitsmittel unter einem zweiten vorbestimmten Druck aus dem Innengehäuse (42) abzuzapfen, wobei das Innengehäuse (42) eine erste Abzapföffnung (84) aufweist und das Außengehäuse (70) eine zweite Abzapföffnung (46) besitzt und ein Abzapfkanal (88) sich zwischen der ersten Abzapföffnung (84) im Innengehäuse (42) und der zweiten Abzapföffnung (86) im Außengehäuse (70) erstreckt und eine Abdichtung herstellt, wobei der erste vorbestimmte Druck größer oder kleiner ist als der zweite vorbestimmte Druck, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß Belastungsmittel (92) eine Belastung des Innengehäuses (42) derart bewirken, daß jede Belastung, die auf das Innengehäuse (42) infolge des Abzapfkanals (88) ausgeübt wird, durch die auf das Innengehäuse (42) infolge der Belastungsmittel (92) erzeugten Last wenigstens vermindert wird, um örtlichen Verminderungen des Zwischenraums (66) zwischen dem Schaufelringaufbau (58, 60, 62, 64) und den Rotorschaufeln (40) entgegenzuwirken.

2. Kompressor nach Anspruch 1, bei welchem die Belastungsmittel (92) aus ersten Belastungsmitteln (92) bestehen, die in Umfangsrichtung auf einer ersten Seite des Abzapfkanals (88) angeordnet sind und zweite Belastungsmittel (92) in Umfangsrichtung auf einer zweiten Seite des Abzapfkanals (88) liegen, und erste und zweite Belastungsmittel (92) Belastungen auf das Innengehäuse (42) unter vorbestimmten Winkeln in Umfangsrichtung vom Abzapfkanal (88) derart ausüben, daß jede Belastung auf dem Innengehäuse (42) infolge des Abzapfkanals (88) durch Komponenten der Belastungen wenigstens vermindert wird, die auf das Innengehäuse (42) infolge der ersten und zweiten Belastungsmittel (92) wirken, um örtlichen Verminderungen des Zwischenraumes (66) zwischen dem Schaufelringaufbau (58, 60, 62, 64) und den Rotorschaufeln (40) entgegenzuwirken.

3. Kompressor nach Anspruch 2, bei welchem die ersten Belastungsmittel (92) einen ersten Zylinder (94) und einen ersten Kolben (96) aufweisen, wobei der erste Kolben (96) koaxial im ersten Zylinder (94) läuft, um eine erste Kammer (98) zu definieren, die mit dem Arbeitsmittel unter einem dritten vorbestimmten Druck gespeist wird und bei welchem die zweiten Belastungsmittel (92) einen zweiten Zylinder (94) und einen zweiten Kolben (96) aufweisen, wobei der zweite Kolben (96) koaxial innerhalb des zweiten Zylinders (94) angeordnet ist, um eine zweite Kammer (98) zu definieren, wobei die zweite Kammer (98) mit einem Arbeitsmittel unter einem vierten vorbestimmten Druck gespeist wird und sowohl der dritte vorbestimmte Druck als auch der vierte vorbestimmte Druck größer oder kleiner als der erste vorbestimmte Druck sind, und wobei der erste Kolben (96) am Innengehäuse (42) oder am Außengehäuse (70) befestigt ist und der erste Zylinder (94) an dem jeweils anderen Teil, nämlich dem Innengehäuse (42) oder dem Außengehäuse (70) festgelegt ist, während der zweite Kolben (96) am Innengehäuse !42) oder am Außengehäuse (701 befestigt ist und der zweite Zylinder (94) an einem anderen Teil, nämlich dem Innengehäuse (42) oder dem Außengehäuse (70) festgelegt ist, wobei die Achsen des ersten Zylinders (94) und des zweiten Zylinders (94) in einem vorbestimmten Winkelabstand umfangsmäßig zum Abzapfkanal (88) derart angeordnet sind, daß jede Last, die auf das Innengehäuse (42) infolge des Vorhandenseins des Abzapfkanals (88) wirkt, durch die Lasten wenigstens vermindert wird, die auf das Innengehäuse (42) infolge der Druckdifferenz zwischen dem Arbeitsmittel in der ersten und zweiten Kammer (98) und dem Arbeitsmittel innerhalb des Innengehäuses (42) wirken.

4. Kompressor nach Anspruch 3, bei welchem die Achsen von erstem und zweitem Zylinder (94) radial verlaufend angeordnet sind.

5. Kompressor nach Anspruch 3 oder 4, bei welchem der erste Zylinder (94) am Innengehäuse (42) und der erste Kolben (96) am Außengehäuse (70) befestigt ist.

6. Kompressor nach Anspruch 3, Anspruch 4 oder Anspruch 5, bei welchem der zweite Zylinder (94) am Innengehäuse (42), und der zweite Kolben (96) am Außengehäuse (70) befestigt ist.

7. Kompressor nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 5, bei welchem die Achsen des ersten Zylinders (94) des zweiten Zylinders (94) der ersten Abzapföffnung (84) und der zweiten Abzapföffnung (86) in einer Ebene liegend angeordnet sind.

8. Kompressor nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 6, bei welchem der erste und der zweite Zylinder (94) in gleichen Winkeln umfangsmäßig zum Abzapfkanal (88) angeordnet ist.

9. Kompressor nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 7, bei welchem die dritten und vierten Drücke gleich sind.

10. Kompressor nach Anspruch 7, bei welchem die Achsen der ersten und zweiten Zylinder (94) unter einem Winkel von 21° gegenüber der Achse des Abzapfkanals (88) angeordnet sind.

11. Kompressor nach Anspruch 7, bei welchem die Achsen des ersten und zweiten Zylinders (94) unter einem Winkel von 18,5° gegenüber der Achse des Abzapfkanals (88) angeordnet sind.

12. Gasturbinentriebwerk, welches einen Kompressor gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 11 aufweist.

13. Gasturbinentriebwerk nach Anspruch 11, bei welchem das Gasturbinentriebwerk ein Turbofan-Triebwerk ist, dessen Fan koaxial in einem Fangehäuse umläuft, wobei das Arbeitsmittel unter dem dritten und vierten vorbestimmten Druck von einer Stelle stromab des Fan zugeführt wird.

Revendications

1. Compresseur à écoulement axial (16) comprenant un rotor (38) ayant au moins un étage d'aubes de rotor (40) s'étendant radialement vers l'extérieur et circonférenciellement espacé, un carter intérieur (42) ayant une structure de carénage (58, 60, 62, 64), la structure de carénage (58, 60, 62, 64) s'étendant circonférentiellement et étant espacée radialement des aubes de rotor (38) par un jeu (66), un carter extérieur (70) étant positionné coaxialement par rapport au carter intérieur (42) et espacé radialement vers l'extérieur dudit carter intérieur, une chambre annulaire (80) étant formée entre le carter intérieur (42) et le carter extérieur (70), la chambre annulaire (80) étant alimentée en fluide moteur à une première pression prédéterminée, une prise de soutirage étant disposée pour soutirer du fluide du moteur à une seconde pression prédéterminée depuis l'intérieur du carter intérieur (42), le carter intérieur (42) ayant une première ouverture de soutirage (84), le carter extérieur (70) ayant une seconde ouverture de soutirage (86), un conduit de soutirage (88) étant disposé pour s'étendre entre et se raccorder avec étanchéité à la première ouverture de soutirage (84) dans le carter intérieur (42) et la seconde ouverture de soutirage (86) dans le carter extérieur (70), la première pression prédéterminée étant supérieure ou inférieure à la seconde pression prédéterminée, caractérisé en ce que des moyens de mise en charge (92) sont disposés pour appliquer une charge sur le carter intérieur (42), telle que toute charge agissant sur le carter intérieur (42) du fait de l'existence du conduit de soutirage (88) soit au moins réduite par la charge agissant sur le carter intérieur (42) du fait des moyens de mise en charge (92), de façon à contrer des réductions locales du jeu (66) entre la structure de carénage (58, 60, 62, 64) et les aubes (40) du rotor.

2. Compresseur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les moyens de mise en charge (92) comprennent un premier moyen de mise en charge (92) positionné circonférenciellement sur un premier côté du conduit de soutirage (88), un second moyen de mise en charge (92) positionné circonférenciellement sur un second côté du conduit de soutirage (88), les premier et second moyens de mise en charge (92) étant disposés de façon à appliquer des charges sur le carter intérieur (42) à des angles prédéterminés circonférentiellement à partir du conduit de soutirage (88), telle que toute charge agissant sur le carter intérieur (42) du fait de l'existence du conduit de soutirage (88) soit au moins réduite par les composantes des charges agissant sur le carter intérieur (42) du fait des premier et second moyens de mise en charge (92), pour contrer les réductions de jeu (66) entre la structure de carénage (58, 60, 62, 64) et les aubes (40) du rotor.

3. Compresseur selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le premier moyen de mise en charge (92) comprend un premier cylindre (94) et un premier piston (96), le premier piston (96) étant disposé coaxialement à l'intérieur du premier cylindre (94) pour définir une première chambre (98), la première chambre (98) étant alimentée en fluide moteur à une troisième pression prédéterminée, le second moyen de mise en charge (92) comprend un second cylindre (94) et un second piston (96), le second piston (96) étant disposé coaxialement à l'intérieur du second cylindre (94) pour définir une seconde chambre (98), la seconde chambre (98) étant alimentée en fluide moteur à une quatrième pression prédéterminée, les troisième et quatrième pressions prédéterminées étant inférieures ou supérieures à la première pression prédéterminée, le premier piston (96) étant fixé à l'un du carter intérieur (42) et du carter extérieur (70), le premier cylindre (94) étant fixé à l'autre du carter intérieur (42) et du carter extérieur (70), le second piston (96) étant fixé à l'un du carter intérieur (42) et du carter extérieur (70), le second cylindre (94) étant fixé à l'autre du carter intérieur (42) et du carter extérieur (70), les axes du premier cylindre (94) et du second cylindre (94) étant disposés à un angle prédéterminé circonférenciellement à partir du conduit de soutirage (88), tel que toute charge agissant sur le carter intérieur (42) du fait de l'existence du conduit de soutirage (88) soit au moins réduite par les charges agissant sur le carter intérieur (42) du fait de la différence de pression entre le fluide moteur dans les première et seconde chambres (98) et le fluide moteur dans le carter intérieur (42).

4. Compresseur selon la revendication 3, dans lequel les axes des premier et second cylindres (94) sont disposés de façon à s'étendre radialement.

5. Compresseur selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication 4, dans lequel le premier cylindre (94) est fixé au carter intérieur (42), et le premier piston (96) est fixé au carter extérieur (70).

6. Compresseur selon la revendication 3, la revendication 4 ou la revendication 5, dans lequel le second cylindre (94) est fixé au carter intérieur (42) et le second piston (96) est fixé au carter extérieur (70).
7. Compresseur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 5, dans lequel les axes du premier cylindre (94), du second cylindre (94), de la première ouverture de soutirage (84), et de la seconde ouverture de soutirage (86) sont diposés dans un même plan.

8. Compresseur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 6, dans lequel les premier et second cylindres (94) sont disposés selon des angles égaux circonférenciellement à partir du conduit de soutirage (88).

9. Compresseur selon l'une quelconques des revendications 3 à 7, dans lequel les troisième et quatrième pressions sont égales.

10. Compresseur selon la revendication 7, dans lequel les axes des premier et second cylindres (94) sont disposés selon un angle de 21° à partir de l'axe du conduit de soutirage (88).

11. Compresseur selon la revendication 7, dans lequel les axes des premier et second cylindres (94) sont disposés selon un angle de 18,5° à partir de l'axe du conduit de soutirage (88).

12. Moteur à turbine à gaz comprenant un compresseur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11.

13. Moteur à turbine à gaz selon la revendication 12 , dans lequel le moteur à turbine à gaz est une turbosoufflante, la turbosoufflante ayant une soufflante disposée coaxialement dans un carter de soufflante, le fluide de moteur aux troisième et quatrième pressions prédéterminées étant fourni à partir d'une position en aval de la soufflante.

Drawing